Contact and Scheduling

What is therapy like?

Like therapists, every session is unique and caters to individual clients and their goals. Many therapists ask clients what they expect from therapy, or what they hope to get out of the process. Therapy may be short-term, often less than a dozen sessions to focus on a specific issue. It can also be long-term, where the client and therapist work together toward goals of growth and development. In order for therapy to be effective, the client(s) must be invested in the process of therapy. Active participation and a willingness to accept responsibility and change are crucial to a positive therapeutic experience.

What kind of therapist is right for me?

There are many reasons people seek out therapy. Some wish to work on long-standing psychological issues, or recurring anxiety or depression. For others, it is in response to unexpected life changes such as a divorce, PCS or lay-off, or the loss of friends or family. Many clients search for advice as they pursue personal exploration and individual growth. Finding a therapist with whom you work well can help you with support, insight, and new strategy for many of life’s challenges. A good therapist is one who you feel comfortable with. A therapist’s job is to create an environment of safety, in which a client may express his or her feelings, desires, and fears honestly without feeling judged. Therapy should be a positive experience. Although many of the experiences may be troubling to revisit, the outcomes should help a client’s growth and promote positive change.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987. It is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model of psychotherapy. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, usually in the form of side-to-side eye movement, to stimulate the processing of memories that may be "stuck" in the brain. The treatment is non-invasive, and promotes complete processing of disturbing memories without the client being retraumatized. EMDR is clinically proven to be one of the most effective forms of trauma therapy, and qualitative studies show that clients report a higher level of resolution with lower levels of pain and suffering from EMDR than other leading therapies. Please see the links for more information on the clinical reports on EMDR.

How can therapy help me?

Participation in therapy can be beneficial in a number of ways. The benefits obtained from therapy depend on the level of investment the clients have in the process, as well as their willingness to apply what they have learned. Through effective therapy, clients often find they:

Effectively deal with anger, grief, and depression.
Set and achieve individual goals for personal growth
Learn new ways to manage and dissolve stress
Develop skills to improve relationships
Improve communication and develop listening skills
Discover new ways to solve old problems
Improve self-esteem and develop self-confidence
Change negative behavior patterns and create new ones

What is Family Therapy like?
How is it different from Individual Therapy?

Many family therapists believe, “All therapy is family therapy.” Family therapy may involve the entire family, a few members, or even individuals from time to time. A therapist may want to address concerns from a specific person during a session, or specific topic the entire family feels is important. In the end, family therapy is designed by the family itself. Sessions are usually 50 minutes in length, and can focus on communication, boundaries, family rules, and how individual issues affect the family. This form of therapy differs from individual therapy in that it focuses on the patterns of behavior and communication that contribute to undesired behaviors.

Does my family need therapy?

Every family goes through difficult circumstances, and while you may successfully navigate some of what you face, there is nothing wrong with seeking out support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need support from someone else, someone who can see their family as a whole, without bias, and identify patterns and issues that perhaps those within the family are not consciously aware of. Family Therapy provides lasting benefit to every family member, providing skills and tools to improve communication, avoid triggers, and overcome challenges. Many clients, especially parents, feel overwhelmed by the difficulties presented in their family. Aggravating factors to everyday challenges include Attention or processing disorders like ADHD, or pervasive issues such as Depression, Anxiety, or Addiction. Some clients may feel helpless, hopeless, or shamed by trauma experienced by family members. In these situations, a health professional can assist families in overcoming grief, loss, or trauma. Any family that feels they are not functioning at a level they would like to should consider family therapy.

Can’t I just take medication instead of getting therapy?

Medication is an important consideration in mental health. However, medication is meant to treat the symptoms of a specific disorder, rather than the root cause. Much like other health concerns- a doctor may treat pain with medication, but a surgery is necessary to remove the cause of the pain. In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the necessary course of treatment. Doctors encourage patients to enter into psychotherapy while taking medication as a complete treatment. Therapists should be familiar with the medications clients take, and can identify mental or physical issues like adverse side effects, tolerance, or interactions with other drugs. As a therapist usually sees a client more often than the prescribing doctor, he or she may identify these concerns much sooner. A medical doctor always determines what medications, if any, are best for a client. However, therapy is the established, long-term solution to mental and emotion problems, and the symptoms of these cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of simply treating a symptom, therapy addresses the cause and uses the body’s natural healing process to solve the problem. Through therapy, clients can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of wellness.